JP2005500188A - Beverage container holder - Google Patents

Abstract

A machine and method for producing beverage container holders of consistently high quality at high production rates and at an economical cost is disclosed herein. Beverage container holders (500) can be produced on the machine using the method disclosed herein at a rate of 50,000 beverage container holders per hour. The initial step of introducing the blanks (810) into the machine's conveying mechanism assures that the blanks are properly aligned and have a predetermined spacing there between, which avoids jamming of the machine and the resulting work stoppage ( Fig. 2 ). The process includes steps for pre-breaking or pre-folding the flaps ( Fig. 5 ) which enable the final folding of the flaps to be performed with the necessary reliability and speed. All except the final step of the manufacturing process are performed while the blanks are being conveyed at a constant high rate along the length of the machine.

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A recyclable corrugated beverage container holder is disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,205,473. The beverage container holder disclosed in this prior patent document is formed from a flat blank of material having a convex arcuate shape along the top edge and a concave arcuate shape along the bottom edge. Flat blanks can be made from a variety of corrugated materials including cardboard. Such materials may have a single or multiple cardboard liners and the corrugation is sinusoidal or chevron shaped. The blank side edges extend generally radially from the center of the arcuate top and bottom edges. Flat blanks are folded along a pair of fold lines or crease lines to form a flat structure with overlapping edges secured together. The flattened structure can then be opened and this structure has the shape of a conical truncated body. This US patent discloses a manufacturing process for the beverage container holder, but does not disclose a manufacturing process or method for manufacturing the holder inexpensively in high quality and in large quantities. Since this is a product that is used only once and then discarded with the beverage container, manufacturing costs need to be minimized.
[0002]
[Summary of the Invention]
An object of the present invention is to manufacture a large amount of beverage container holders at low cost and with high quality without variation. Beverage container holders can be manufactured at greatly improved speeds on machines utilizing the methods disclosed herein. The beverage container holder produced by this machine and method is of high quality and is a very useful product. The first challenge encountered during the development of the present invention was whether the blank could be correctly introduced into the processing machine. If the blank is not correctly aligned first in the machine's transport mechanism, the blank will cause the machine to become clogged, which will cause the machine to stop, clear the clog, and start the manufacturing process again. found. The machines and methods disclosed herein have solved this problem. In order to produce this product at significantly increased speed, it was necessary to develop a method in which all of the work of this method was performed while the blank and product were moving during the manufacturing process. If time is required to slow down and then re-accelerate the blank to reach the stop for a single operation, it is impossible to achieve an increase in production speed. Another serious problem that had to be solved is that if heat activated adhesive is applied to the inner surface of the beverage container holder, it will crystallize during the manufacturing process to keep the inner surfaces of the products from sticking to each other. It was to have. This has been resolved by utilizing the cooling air flow at the correct location and time point throughout the process.
[0003]
Both flaps of the blank must be folded during the manufacturing process. A procedure has been developed that includes the step of pre-folding or pre-folding the flap, which allows the final folding of the flap to be performed with the required reliability and speed.
[0004]
As a result of the present invention, the beverage container holder disclosed herein can be manufactured with high reliability in a continuous mechanical process. In the method disclosed herein, an operator loads a blank stack at the start of a production line, another operator picks up a group of finished products in a scaly arrangement, and places the group in a transport case. .
[0005]
Detailed Description of the Invention
The blank 10 used in the method and machine of the present invention is manufactured by printing and punching operations performed by mechanisms not included in the present invention. Other designs of blanks and raw substrates can be used in the practice of the method of the present invention and processed on the machine of the present invention. However, the blanks disclosed herein and used in the preferred embodiments of the present invention have a single corrugated liner and a single step corrugation. Other final design beverage container holders can be manufactured using the methods and machines disclosed herein, but the final product disclosed herein is a stepped surface that contacts the beverage container and an external corrugated liner surface. have. Signs may be placed on the outer corrugated liner surface. As now described, each blank is folded along a predetermined fold line (fold line). Perforations are placed in the blank along these fold lines when the blank is manufactured. The perforations are also placed in the area where the blank free ends are secured together with an adhesive during manufacture of the blank. These perforations are formed on this surface so that the adhesive can pass through the corrugated liner surface.
[0006]
In the following description of the method and machine 100 for bringing the beverage container holder from the blank 10 to the initial product 500, directions such as "front", "left side" and "right side" indicate that the blank is a processing step. It is determined from the position in front of the machine 100 when viewed in the direction of advance. The machine 100 extends longitudinally over a substantial length, and the machine has a number of work stations along its length. In the following description, the work stations along the left side and the right side will be described. When describing the work station on the left side of the machine 100, the direction of movement of the blank 10 is indicated by the direction of arrow A, and when describing the work station on the right side of the machine, the direction of movement of the blank 10 is determined by the direction of arrow B. Will be shown. In a preferred embodiment, an operator located at the starting end of the machine loads a stack of blanks into the machine 100, and another operator at the finished end of the machine delivers the finished product 500 to a shipping carton. To load. In a preferred embodiment of this machine, the step of converting the blank to the finished product state is performed automatically by the machine as the blank is being transported along its longitudinal length by the machine 100. All of the conveyors that carry the blank 10 along the length of the machine 100 and the mechanisms that process the blank are carried or supported by the machine frame 102.
[0007]
At the start end of the machine, a vertical storage device 30 is provided for receiving a stack of blanks 10 (see FIG. 1). The blanks 10 are then ejected onto a set of introduction belts 50 (see FIG. 2) that carry the blanks into the mouth 101 of the transport mechanism of the machine 100. The production rate of beverage container holders has increased significantly as a result of the machines and methods disclosed herein.
[0008]
Vertical storage 30 is connected to machine frame 102 and holds side bars 32 and a stack of blanks perpendicular to mouth 101 of machine 100 that serve to prevent blank 10 from moving left or right. And a pair of rear braces 36 that function to prevent the stack from falling.
[0009]
As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the vertical containment device 30 has a rear bracket 34 that has a curved surface 35 along their bottom edges. The curved surface 35 serves to guide the blank 10 as the blank is transported forward one after another from the bottom of the stack by the introduction belt 50. The rear bracket 34 is supported by the machine frame 102 by an L-shaped mounting bar 104 (see FIG. 3). The rear bracket 34 is connected to the L-shaped mounting bar 104 by a mechanism that can finely adjust the front bracket 34 in the vertical direction. The purpose of this adjustment is to accommodate the blank thickness. If a blank load is accepted, the blank is of uniform thickness overall. However, in some cases, there are blanks of slightly different overall thickness within blank loads as well as blank batches from different manufacturers. When such a situation occurs, the rear bracket 34 is adjusted with respect to the upper surface of the pair of introduction belts 50 so that when the single blank 10 is supported on the introduction belt 50, You must be able to pass through.
[0010]
The height of the vertical containment device 30 and the support brackets 32, 34, 36 are custom designed to introduce blanks into the machine at a high speed that fits the machine's ability to produce finished products. Due to the speed of this machine, it has been determined that the vertical storage device will always contain more than 200 blanks therein. The operator continuously adds blanks to the stack so that the vertical storage device 30 always stores a minimum of 200 blanks. The brackets 32, 34, 36 also serve to prevent the blank from bending when the blank is in the mouth 101 of the machine 100.
[0011]
The vertical storage device 30 further includes a pair of vibrators 38 having flat pads 39 that abut the rear surface of the blank stack near the bottom of the stack. The horizontal vibration is transmitted from the vibration generating mechanism 40 to the flat pad 39.
[0012]
FIG. 2 illustrates a certain structure, such as the side bars 32 and the machine frame 102, to better illustrate the relationship between the rear bracket 34 and a set of introduction belts 50 that serve as the supply gates for the individual blanks 10. It is a schematic side view which is not carried out. It should be noted that the individual blanks 10 are fed from the bottom of the stack of blanks 10 held in the vertical storage device 30. FIG. 2 shows the left rear bracket 34, and it should be understood that the same right rear bracket 34 is hidden by the left bracket 34 in this view. The front surface of the stack of blanks 10 is in engagement with the rear surface of the front bracket 34. The rear bracket 34 has a curved surface 35 at the lower end thereof. The vibrator 38 causes the blank 10 located at the bottom of the stack to move forward following the curved surface 35 of the rear bracket 34. Under the stack of blanks 10, a set of spaced apart introduction belts 50 are provided, and these introduction belts are driven in the direction of arrow A in FIG. A set of drive belts 50 extends across the entire width of the blank 10. A plurality of rollers 44 are provided below the drive belt 42, and a take-up roller 45 is provided to keep the belt taut. The blank 10 located at the bottom of the stack rests on the upper surface of the set of drive belts 50 and is thereby transported forward. The rear bracket 34 is adjusted with respect to the upper surface of the pair of drive belts so that a gap is formed between the upper and lower drive belts so that one blank 10 can pass under the bottom end of the rear bracket 34. Yes. When the blank 10 emerges from below the rear bracket 34, the blank hits a central pressing roller 46 supported by a mounting rod 47 and a roller wheel 48 arranged in a row at the right and left ends of the blank 10. . The central pressing roller 46 and the row roller wheel 48 are supported by the machine frame 102 (see FIG. 3). In FIG. 2, the left column of the roller wheel 48 is visible, which hides the right column of the roller wheel 48. The right and left rows of the center presser roller 46 and roller wheel 48 apply downward pressure to the top surface of the blank 10 to hold the blank 10 in engagement with the set of introduction belts 50. This positive control of these blanks when they are about to be fed into the mouth 101 of the machine 100 is important for the correct operation of the machine 100. When the blank 10 is fed into the mouth 101 of the machine 100 in a curved or twisted state, the machine 100 becomes clogged. When this happens, the machine must be stopped to clear the clog, and a very undesirable downtime occurs.
[0013]
The blank 10 is placed in the vertical containment 30 with these stepped or corrugated surfaces facing up, and the concave arcuate bottom edge 11 is the leading edge when the blank enters the machine mouth 101 It is. Adjusting the speed of the set of introduction belts 50 can control the speed at which the supply gate introduces the blank into the machine mouth 101. Thereby, the space | interval between the blanks 10 when the blank 10 advances the inside of a machine can be adjusted. In the preferred embodiment, a spacing of about 3/4 inch (1.905 cm) is maintained.
[0014]
After receiving the blank into the mouth 101 of the machine 100, the blank is continuously advanced through the machine 100 at a constant speed, and finally the finished product 500 is scaled down with its forward speed reduced. You will reach the final stage of taking form. In this scaly configuration, the trailing edge of each finished product overlaps and is supported by the finished product 500 that follows it. Thus, a series of steps or processes performed on the blank to obtain a finished product is performed while the blank 10 is moving at a constant speed. The blank 10 does not stop its forward movement when moving forward through the machine 100.
[0015]
One set of introduction belts 50 is relatively short and feeds blanks into the machine mouth 110, which introduction belts 50 comprise a set of upper belt 52 and lower belt 53. Each set of belts 52 and 53 comprises two relatively narrow ribbon-like belts spaced horizontally from one another. The upper set of belts 52 overlaps with the lower set of belts 53. As best shown in FIG. 3, the set of belts 52, 53 is narrower than the blank 10, so that the right and left ends of the blank 10 are separated from the set of belts 52, 53. It extends in the holding state. As shown in FIG. 3, the set of belts 52, 53 does not extend over the entire length of the machine. Rather, the series of upper and lower belts cooperate with each other to carry the blank along the length of the machine 100. However, throughout the length of the machine, all upper belts are indicated by reference numeral 52 and all lower belts are indicated by reference numeral 53. The upper surface of the lower transverse member of the upper belt 52 engages a series of freely rotating rollers 54 that serve to exert downward pressure on the blank 10 to ensure their constant movement with the belt 53. To do. The lower surface of the upper lateral member of the lower belt 53 is supported by a series of freely rotating rollers 55 that extend perpendicular to the running direction of the belt 53. The pair of belts 52, 53 is narrower than the blank 10, and the blank 10 rests on the lower belt 53 so that both ends extend in a cantilevered manner from the longitudinal edges of the belt. With this configuration, when the blank is moving forward along the length of the machine, the belts 53 and 54 and the upper and lower belts of the next set maintain various controls while maintaining the reliable control of the blank 10. It is possible to approach the free end of the blank by the processing apparatus. The speeds of the belts 52 and 53 can be adjusted by a belt driving mechanism.
[0016]
The first processing station encountered by the blank 10 is the shaving station shown in FIG. This station is installed on the left side of the machine 100, and the bottom surface of the left group flap 19 is processed at this station. The blank 10 is conveyed between the upper belt 52 and the lower belt 53 in the direction of arrow A. The left blank flap 19 of a single blank 10 is shown in FIG. 4 with cantilevered outward from between the belts 52, 53. It should be noted that when machine 100 is operating, there is a series of blanks 100, rather than a single blank as shown for purposes of illustration. In this station, a motor 111 for driving the rotating wire brush wheel 112 is provided. The motor 111 is supported by a motor mount 113 extending from the machine frame 102. A guide backup member 114 is supported by a support 115 carried by the machine frame 102. With the support 115, the guide backup member 114 can be adjusted in the vertical direction to correspond to the height of the blank 10. Guide backup member 114 is made of an elongated strip of rigid sheet metal having an upwardly curved guide portion 116. The guide portion 116 functions to guide the left group flap 19 of the blank 10 under the guide backup member 114. The guide backup member 114 further includes a backup portion 117 located above the wire brush wheel 112. As the blank 10 is being transported through the scraping station 110, the wire brush engages the lower surface of the left group flap 19 of the blank 100. The wire brush wheel 112 rotates about an axis perpendicular to the direction in which the blank is advanced. The backup portion 117 of the guide backup member 114 is located above the wire brush wheel 112 when a blank is being conveyed through this station 110. Thus, the top surface of the blank 10 is supported by the backup portion 117 when the wire brush wheel 112 is shaving the lower surface of the glue flap 19. As the shaving operation produces dust, the vacuum system should be utilized in this area to maintain good working conditions for the machine operator and the machine 100.
[0017]
The blank 10 continues to move in the direction of arrow A from the shaving station 110 shown in FIG. 4 to the preliminary folding station shown in FIG. This station is installed on the left side of the machine 100, and the left group flap 19 is machined at this station. The left side glue flap 19 is pre-folded along the perforated radial fold line 16 at this station. A folding bar 24 attached to the machine frame 102 extends to the left on the upper side as seen in FIG. The lower surface of the left-sided glue flap 19 extending in the horizontal direction hits the folding bar 24 and rides on the bar, so that the flap is bent or folded upwards along the perforated radial folding line 16 toward the vertical position, And folded downward toward the horizontal position. A belt 206 is located below the free end of the blank 10 being conveyed between the belts 52 and 53. The folded left-side group flap 19 can freely expand and return to the horizontal configuration after passing over the folding bar 24.
[0018]
The pre-folding operation for the right overlap flap 20 is shown in FIG. This operation occurs on the right side of the machine 100 and the blank 10 is moving in the direction of arrow B. The right overlap flap 20 is folded along the perforated radial fold line 17 at this station. A bend (bending) bar 27 attached to the machine frame 102 extends horizontally along the upper surface of the blank 10 on the central portion 18 of the blank 10. The bend bar 27 functions to keep the central portion 18 horizontal when the right overlap flap 20 is bent along the perforated radial fold line 17. A first relatively short fold bar 28 attached to the machine frame 102 extends upward and to the right as shown in FIG. The lower surface of the horizontally extending right overlap flap 20 hits the folding bar 28 and rides on the bar so that the flap is bent or folded upwards along the perforated radial fold line 17 toward the vertical position. Become. Next, the right overlap flap 20 hits the second long folding bar 29, so that the right overlap flap 20 begins to bend downward toward the folded horizontal position. Next, the folded right overlap flap 20 hits a pressing roller 31 that rotates freely, and this pressing roller functions to continue pressing the flap 20 toward the horizontal position. The pressing roller 31 that freely rotates is carried by a holder 33 supported on the machine frame 102. The folded right overlap flap 20 then hits a crease (crease) putting member 37, which creases along the perforated radial fold line 17. The folded right-side overlap flap 19 can freely spread back toward the horizontal configuration after passing through the crease member 37.
[0019]
A station for applying the heat activated adhesive 22 to the blank 10 is shown in FIG. Visible in FIG. 7 is the right side of the machine and the blank 10 is moving from the left side to the right side in this view. In this view of the station for applying the heat activated adhesive 22, the heat activated adhesive 22 is applied to the stepped or corrugated central portion 18 of the blank 10. The mechanism shown in FIG. 7 is the same and thus is not shown on the left side of the machine, and the heat activated adhesive on the left side of the machine is applied to the step or corrugated side of the left group flap 19. . A holder mechanism 60 supported by the machine frame 102 is installed above the blank 10 at these stations. An electric eye 62 is indicated by the holder mechanism. The electric eye 62 detects the leading edge 11 of the blank 10 and sends a signal to the machine control mechanism, which passes the heat activated adhesive 22 through the dispensing mechanism 63 supported by the holder 60. Send a signal to the dispensing mechanism. As a result, the heat activated adhesive 22 forming two lines is attached to the stepped surface of the blank 10. This adhesive softens in response to the hot beverage in the cup, thereby causing the holder to stick to the cup. The adhesive is at a temperature of about 295 ° F. (146 ° C.) when applied. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the adhesive used for this purpose is an industrial adhesive available as 191-10 from AABBIT Ade of Chicago, Illinois.
[0020]
FIG. 8 shows a work station where cold or cold air is applied to the heat activated adhesive 22 applied to the stepped surface of the central portion 18 of the blank 10. What can be seen in FIG. 8 is the right side of the machine 100 and the blank 10 is moving from the left side to the right side. In this view, the heat activated adhesive 22 is applied to the stepped or corrugated central portion 18 of the blank 10, and thus cool air is directed to this area of the blank 10. The mechanism shown in FIG. 8 is the same on the left and right and thus is not shown on the left side of the machine. The only difference of this device on the left side of the machine is that the cooled heat activated adhesive 22 is applied to the left side glue flap 19 rather than the central portion 18. Pressurized air is received at these stations through tube 64. The pressurized air is cooled and a flow of cooling air at a temperature of about 20 ° F. (−6.7 ° C.) is applied to the heat activated adhesive 22. If the glue flap 19 and the overlap flap 20 are folded and restrained in the region where the heat-activatable adhesive 22 is applied by this process, the crystallizing is sufficiently performed to lose the ability to stick or adhere to the other side of the blank. . In a preferred embodiment, pressurized ambient air is supplied through a vortex tube, which converts a portion of the ambient air into a cold air stream. Within the vortex tube, compressed air is squeezed through nozzles that divide the air into hot and cold portions that flow from opposite ends of the vortex tube. By controlling the relative dimensions of the parts, the ratio of the hot and cold parts can be adjusted. See US Pat. No. 3,173,273 for a more complete disclosure of how to use vortex tubes. The vortex tube is disposed within the cylindrical portion 65, which is located near where the cooling air functions to crystallize the adhesive 22. The orifice of the vortex tube can be opened and closed with a knob 59, which allows the temperature of the dispensed air to be maintained at the desired temperature independent of the ambient air temperature. Hot air or hot air is exhausted through port 66. As a matter of course, the cooling air for the low-temperature air dispenser may be supplied using a refrigeration unit. The cold air flows through the main branch 67 of the plastic air dispensing pipe, which is divided into a first dispensing part 68 and a second dispensing part 69, each terminating in a nozzle. doing. The first dispensing portion 68 emits cold air and applies it to the heat activated adhesive 22, which in turn provides a second blow of cold air from the second dispensing portion 69. receive.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 8, the right overlap flap 20 of the blank 10 is folded up upon entering this work station. This is a result of the preliminary folding of this flap that occurred at the work station shown in FIG. As can be seen in FIG. 8, the L-shaped bar 70 is attached to the machine frame 102 just past the place where cold air is dispensed. The generally horizontal leg 71 of the L-shaped bar 70 extends at an angle across the path of the upward overlapping flap 20. As a result, the right overlap flap 20 is returned to the horizontal configuration. This allows the blank 10 to be received between another set of upper belt 52 and lower belt 53, which take on the role of carrying the blank along the length of the machine. The reason why these are necessary is that at the next work station, the left side glue flap 19 hits the central portion 18 of the blank 10 and is folded flat, and then a seam adhesive 23 is applied to the surface of the left side glue flap 19. Because it becomes.
[0022]
The next work station of the machine 100 shown in FIG. 9 is where the left side glue flap 19 is folded flat on the central portion 18 of the blank 10. As shown in FIG. 9, the left group flap 19 moves from the right side to the left side. As the left side glue flap 19 enters the work station, it is lifted slightly from the horizontal position. This is the result of this pre-folding of the flap occurring at the work station shown in FIG. A fold sword 200 is attached to the machine frame 102 so as to be positioned over the blank 10 in the region of the perforated radial fold line 16. The folding sword 200 serves to hold down the central portion 18 of the blank 10 and provide an edge at which the left group flap 19 is folded. A folding bar 202 attached to the machine frame 102 extends inward and above the top of the folding sword 200 so that the front edge of the folded-up group flap 19 hits the folding bar 202. . The folding bar 202 extends inward from the location where the initial contact with the flap 19 is made to its free end 203. The front edge and bottom surface of the proof wrap 19 slide along the folding bar 202, whereby the glue flap further rotates toward the horizontal position. A carrier belt transition guide 201 is fixed to the machine frame 102. The carrier belt transition guide 201 has three freely rotating vertically oriented rollers through which the belt 206 passes. The location of the belt 206 is also visible in the previous work station shown in FIG. Thus, the belt 206 is twisted from a horizontal position to a vertical position. As a result, at the free end 203 of the folding bar 202, the belt 206 is directed in the vertical direction and functions to direct the glue flap 19 in the horizontal direction. As shown in FIG. 9, the proof wrap 19 continues to advance to the left and reaches a location where a conical folding assisting wheel 204 is provided. The folding assist wheel 204 actually engages the upper surface or outer surface of the belt 206, which upper surface or outer surface engages the glue flap 19 as the glue flap passes through this location. The conical folding assist wheel 204 causes the belt 206 to move at an angle of about 45 ° from its vertical position, whereby the glue flap 19 assumes this position. The belt 206 then strikes the folding presser wheel 207, which is engaged with the upper surface of the belt 206, thereby causing the belt to move in a horizontal position. At this location, the glue flap 19 is folded flat on the central portion 18 of the blank 10. During the implementation of the above-described method shown in FIG. 9, the lower surface of the central portion of the blank 10 is supported by a bottom belt 205 which can be seen in the left corner of FIG. After the proof wrap 19 leaves the folding hold-down wheel 207, it is held in a flat folded position by a hold-down mechanism 208, which holds the flap 19 to the belt 206 and the bottom belt 205. Sandwich between. The holding mechanism 208 performs reliable control of the blank 10 after the left side glue flap 19 is folded flat on the central portion 18 of the blank 10. The pressing mechanism 208 includes a first roller 214, an upper groove wheel 209, and a second roller 213. Upper groove wheel 209 is mounted to rotate freely at the top of mast 210. The belt 206 extends below the roller 214, then extends upward and passes around the groove wheel 209, and then extends downward and extends around the roller 213. The belt 206 is horizontal at this point and moves from the right side to the left side as indicated by the arrow A.
[0023]
In FIG. 10, the blank 10 is conveyed from the left side to the right side by the upper belt 52 and the lower belt 53 cooperating therewith. In this step of the process, the shaving area 21 of the left glue flap 19 made on the corrugated liner, which is the underside of the blank at the shaving location, is exposed on the top of the blank 10. The next step in the method is to apply seam adhesive to the shaved areas. The left side glue flap 19 is held in a posture folded upward by the upper belt 52 and the lower belt 53 in a state where the shaved area is exposed so that the adhesive can be applied. As shown in the leftmost part of FIG. 10, the hot melt seam adhesive 23 is applied to the surface of the corrugated liner of the left group flap 19 that is bent over the scraped state. The hot melt dispenser 300 is supported on the machine frame 102 by a support bar 301. Hot melt dispenser 300 receives hot melt adhesive through flexible tube 302. The electric eye 304 detects the presence or absence of the blank 10 and sends a signal to the machine processor via line 306, which sends the signal back to line 306 to the dispenser 300 when the adhesive is to be dispensed. Tell this. After the hot melt 23 is applied on the shaving area of the left group flap 19, the right overlap flap 20 is bent and pressed against the area where the adhesive 23 is applied. A carrier belt transition guide 308 is supported by the machine frame 102. The carrier belt transition guide 308 has three freely rotating rollers oriented in the horizontal direction through which the upper traveling portion 311 of the belt 310 passes. The belt transition guide 308 functions to twist the belt 310 from a horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation as the belt passes through it. When the blank 10 approaches the region shown in FIG. 10, the right overlap flap 20 is positioned on the upper traveling portion 311 of the belt 310 that is directed horizontally. When the upper traveling portion 311 of the belt 310 starts to shift from the horizontal direction to the vertical direction before entering the belt transition guide 308, the right overlap flap 20 moves upward along the perforated radial fold line 17. To turn. The upper traveling unit 311 is in a vertical direction so as to exit the belt transition guide 308, and lifts the right overlap flap 20 to a vertical posture. As the blank 10 continues to move to the right as shown in FIG. 10, the blank 10 reaches a conical folding assist wheel 314 that engages the vertical outer surface of the belt 310 and thereby the belt 310. Moves back toward the horizontal posture and bends the right overlap flap 20 toward the horizontal folding position. As the blank 10 continues to move to the right as shown in FIG. 10, the belt 310 encounters a fold down wheel 316 that folds the overlap flap 20 over the shaving area coated with hot melt adhesive. It is a wheel in the shape of a disk for ice hockey that is pushed down into a bent horizontal posture. At this point in the method, the blank 10 has been formed into a finished product 500, but in the final step, the blank 10 is left for a sufficient time to allow the adhesive to cure by continuing to press the right overlap flap 20. Contact the proof wrap 19.
[0024]
As product 500 continues to advance along machine 100, the product reaches the pressure application station of machine 100. In this station, a pressure applying device 400 is provided (FIG. 11). The pressure application device 400 includes an upper continuous belt 406 and a lower continuous belt 408, and a receiving port 401 is formed between them. Product 500 is fed into mouth 401 of pressure applicator 400 by upper belt 52 and lower belt 53 and advances along the length of pressure applicator 400. The upper belt 406 extends over a large diameter drive drum 402 provided near the end of the machine and extends under a series of freely rotating rollers 404 which are the inner surfaces of the lower transverse members of the belt 406. Is engaged. The series of freely rotating rollers 404 also includes an initial roller 405 that engages the inner surface of the belt 406 along its forward edge. The lower belt 408 extends over the first roller 409, followed by a series of adjustable rollers 409, all of which are associated with the lower surface of the belt 408. Match. An adjustment mechanism for raising and lowering the series of rollers 409 is provided. Adjusting the lower belt 408 upward increases the pressure exerted on the finished product by the lower belt 408. Thus, for example, when an operator performs a quality inspection on a product, if the operator finds that the adhesive holding the two flaps improperly secures these ends together, the operator The position of the roller can be adjusted.
[0025]
FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of the product 500 being fed into the mouth 401 of the pressure application device 400 by the upper belt 52 and the lower belt 53. The pressure applicator belt 406 is driven at a slower speed than the belts 52, 53, and thus the spacing between the blanks 10 that is present when the product is being propelled by the belts 52, 53 is such that the product 500 is pressure applied. It should be noted that once it enters the 400 mouth 401, it disappears. Thus, the product 500 enters and exits the pressure applicator 400 in a scaly arrangement with its leading edge supporting the product preceding it. The electric eye 420 counts the number of products 500 as the products 500 are in the mouth 401 of the pressure applicator 400 and sends a signal to the machine operating system when each product 500 is recognized. A kicker mechanism 422 is provided slightly in front of the electric eye 420, and a kick arm 423 is rotatably attached to the kicker mechanism. The pivot axis of the kick arm is such that when the kick arm is pivoted, it is the last finished product counted by the electric eye 420 and deviates from its normal orientation between the belts 52, 53. is there. When the electric eye 420 counts 134 products and sends these signals to the actuation system, the actuation system sends signals to the kicker mechanism 422 and the kick arm 423 rotates to place the product 500 in a scaly state. Move it from its normal position.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 13, when the finished product 500 exits the pressure applying device 400, the finished product is in a scaly array with these leading edges 11 positioned below the trailing edge of the preceding finished product 500. It is in. An elongated longitudinally extending metal bar 416 rests along the center of the finished product line. The metal bar 416 is placed at a location located in front of the area where the finished product is picked up and placed in the transport carton. The finished product 501 is shown in FIG. 13 without being aligned with other finished products 500. This is the 134th product, which is a product kicked out from its normal position by the kick arm 423. The number 134 is arbitrary and may be other numbers, for example 100 or 150. The number 134 is used in Applicant's preferred embodiment because 133 finished products fall within a row of transport cartons that are packaged after leaving the pressure applicator 400. is there. The operator picks up the next group of 134 finished products using the kicked-out finished product as an indicator. When the finished product is arranged in a scale, the pickup of 134 products arranged in a row is greatly increased by grasping the first product and the 134th product and compressing them so that they take a vertical posture. Each finished product 500 lies flat in a state where it hits an adjacent finished product. With the finished product 500 compressed into a finished product stack, the stack is placed in a transport carton.
[0027]
A method of forming a beverage container holder from the blank 10 after the blank 10 has been sent out from the vertical storage device 30 will be described below with reference to FIGS. In FIGS. 14-21, the blank 10 is shown isolated from the machine 100, and its components are not shown to clearly illustrate the beverage container holder manufacturing method. The blank as delivered from the vertical storage device 30 and the blank in production and finished product form are all shown in plan view in the series of FIGS. Furthermore, the processing of a single blank starts in FIG. 14 and proceeds step by step to the final manufacturing process shown in FIG. Thus, the manufacturing method proceeds stepwise from the top of the drawing downward.
[0028]
As shown in FIG. 14, the blank 10 is a case where the blank 10 is supported on the introduction belt 50 with the corrugated liner side facing down and the corrugated or stepped side facing up after being kicked out of the vertical storage device 30. As shown. As shown in this series of FIGS. 14 to 21, the concave edge portion 11 of the blank 10 is a front edge portion, and the convex edge portion 12 is a rear edge portion. The side edges 13 and 14 extend substantially in the radial direction when the edges 11 and 12 are regarded as concentric circular arcs. The corner portion where the concave edge portion 11 and the side edge portion 14 intersect is cut off at reference numeral 15 for the purpose described below. Further, as shown in FIG. 14, two perforated radial fold lines 16 and 17 divide the blank 10 into a central portion 18, a left group flap 19 and a right overlap flap 20. When the blank 10 is fed into the machine 100, the blank 10 is supported at its central portion 18 and the flaps 19, 20 project outwardly in a cantilevered manner.
[0029]
In FIG. 15, the blank 10 is shown after being fed from the introduction belt 50 into the mouth 110 of the machine 100, and this blank is located at the shaving location 110. At this location, a shaving area 21 is made on the corrugated liner surface of the glue flap 19, preferably along its free edge 14. The shaving operation is performed by a rotating wire brush wheel 112 that is adjustably mounted so that the edge of the brush wheel 112 engages the lower surface of the glue flap 19. The wire brush wheel 112 is attached such that its peripheral edge engages with the surface of the corrugated liner of the glue flap 19 so that the wire tip of the brush wheel contacts the smooth corrugated liner surface of the glue flap 19. Sharpening serves two purposes: First, sharpening removes corrugated debris and / or other particles generated during the printing and die cutting operations utilized to form the blank 10. Second, the brush wheel removes the top layer of fibers from the outer surface of the blank. This important step allows the inner fiber of the outer corrugated liner to stand, thus making the surface porous and allowing the seam adhesive to penetrate these inner fibers.
[0030]
A pre-folding or pre-folding operation is then performed on both free ends of each blank. In these operations, the left side glue flap 19 and the right side overlap flap 20 are folded upward along the perforated radial fold lines 16 and 17, respectively. This pre-folding or pre-folding operation serves to ensure the correct operation of the subsequent steps of the method in which the flap is completely folded into a horizontal position.
[0031]
The blank 10 is located where the heat-activated adhesive 22 is applied to the corrugated surface of the blank 10 as shown in FIG. Two beads of heat activated adhesive 22 are applied to the surface that will be the inner surface of the beverage container holder. One of the beads 22 is applied to the central portion 18 of the blank 10, and the other bead 22 is applied to the left group flap 19. When the coffee brewer fills the container with hot coffee, the heat-activated adhesive 22 softens and acts as an adhesive that prevents the beverage container holder from sliding off or slipping out of the container. Thermally activated adhesive is applied from a glue head facing downward from a holder mechanism 60 supported on the frame 102 of the machine 100 so that the adhesive bead 22 forms a slight angle from the leading edge 11 to the trailing edge. It extends across a number of steps or grooves extending to section 12. Although it is not necessary to apply two beads of adhesive 22 simultaneously, both applications need to be performed prior to the next step of cooling the adhesive.
[0032]
One of the difficult problems that must be solved with this manufacturing method is that when the heat-activated adhesive applied to the inner part of the beverage container holder is folded and compressed, the other panels of the blank It is to prevent sticking to. This phenomenon is called “blocking (adhesion)”. If the heat activated adhesive sticks the inner panels together, the beverage container holder does not open and cannot be placed on the cup.
[0033]
After applying the heat activated adhesive to the stepped surface of the blank 10, the blank proceeds to its location shown in FIG. At this location, the machine frame 102 supports a cold air (cold air) dispensing mechanism 63 for each of the beads of adhesive 22 applied to the blank. The cold air dispensing mechanism 63 directs the flow of cooling air to the beads of the heat activated adhesive 22. This step prevents the heat activated adhesive from sticking or sticking to the other side of the blank and thus crystallizing enough to prevent "blocking".
[0034]
After crystallizing the heat activated adhesive, the blank moves into the folded portion of the machine 100. As shown in FIG. 18, the pressing mechanism 208 and its cooperating components cause the left panel, called the group flap 19, to fold over the stepped portion of the blank 10. In the method of manufacturing the blank 10, a perforated radial fold line or streak 16 is formed in the blank before the stack of blanks is placed in the vertical storage device 30. Of this fold line. As shown in FIG. 18, the shaving area 21 formed on the surface of the cardboard liner can be seen.
[0035]
In FIG. 19, the seam adhesive 23 is applied to the shaving area 21 on the surface of the cardboard liner. This station of the machine 100 is provided with a hot melt dispenser 300 that dispenses hot melt or seam adhesive 23 into the scraping area of the left side glue flap 19.
[0036]
In FIG. 20, the folding presser wheel 316 and its cooperating components guide a right panel called an overlap flap 20 that is folded along a perforated radial fold line 17 to provide a seam. The free end of the glue flap 19 on which the adhesive 23 is applied is positioned on the shaving area 21.
[0037]
In FIG. 21, pressure is applied by the pressure applicator 400 to the overlapping areas of the overlap flap 20 and the glue flap 19 so that the free ends of the blank 10 are secured together. At this location of the machine 100 is provided a pressure applicator 400 in the form of a belt 406 driven by a large diameter driven drum 402 and extending on a freely rotating roller bar. Pressure is applied at this station and the product is now complete and ready for packaging for transport.
[0038]
We now have a description of how to make the finished product. The finished product is flat so it can be easily packed in a container and transported to the location of the beverage supplier. When the final product is opened, the final product has the shape of a conical truncated body that matches the conical truncated body of the beverage container.
[Brief description of the drawings]
[0039]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view seen from the front of a vertical storage device.
FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a supply gate region of a machine.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the supply gate and mouth of the machine.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a shaving station.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a mechanism for pre-folding a left side flap of a blank.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a mechanism for pre-folding a blank right flap.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a work station where a heat activated adhesive is applied.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a work station where cold air is applied to the heat activated adhesive.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a work station where the left side glue flap is folded flat over the central portion of the blank.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a work station where hot melt seam adhesive is applied and the right overlap flap is folded over and pressed against the adhesive applied area.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a pressure application device.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of the finished product when the finished product is being fed into the mouth of the pressure application device.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view seen from the back of the pressure application device, showing a finished product exiting the pressure application device.
FIG. 14 is a plan view of an isolation blank when the isolated blank is starting through a processing machine with a corrugated or stepped side up.
FIG. 15 is a plan view of the isolation blank when the isolation blank is being shaved.
FIG. 16 is a plan view of the isolation blank when the thermal glue is applied to the stepped surface of the isolation blank.
FIG. 17 is a plan view of the isolation blank when cold air is applied to a thermal glue applied to the stepped surface of the isolation blank.
FIG. 18 is a single plan view of the blank after the glue flap has been folded along one of the crease axes.
FIG. 19 is a single plan view of the blank after the left edge is bent up along the crease axis and the glue is applied to the surface of the cardboard liner.
FIG. 20 is a single plan view of the blank after the right edge is folded up along the fold line so that the glue is positioned over a portion of the left edge applied to the surface of the cardboard liner. is there.
FIG. 21 is a single plan view of a blank when pressure is applied to fix the overlapping portions of the right and left edges to each other.

Claims (46)

A method of manufacturing a beverage container holder comprising the steps of providing a stack of elongated blanks each having a central portion and two end flaps, the blanks being of uniform thickness, Providing a conveyor mechanism that engages a central portion of the blank and conveys the blank at a constant speed from the start of the process to the end of the final folding step of the process; and A step of discharging the stack one after another from the stack into the conveyor mechanism with the outer surface facing downward and the inner surface facing upward, a step of scraping the outer surface of the end flap of each discharged blank, and a folding line for each end flap Fold up along to release these end flaps, thereby returning them toward their expanded position, and fold up the scraped end flaps Applying the adhesive to the scraped area of the flap lying flat on the central portion of the blank and applying the other end flap of the blank to the flat portion of the blank. Folding up so that it sits on top of the glued scraping area, transporting the folded blank at a rate slower than the constant speed and applying downward pressure to the folded blank Prepare the pressure application mechanism and send the folded blank to the pressure application mechanism so that the pressure is applied to the free end flaps over the scraped area where the adhesive is applied and the finished product is discharged The manufacturing method of the drink container holder characterized by having further the process to do. Providing a storage device for receiving a stack of elongated blanks, and providing the storage device with side bars and rear braces to ensure correct alignment of the blanks when the blanks are ejected into the conveyor mechanism. The method for producing a beverage container holder according to claim 1, further comprising: Providing a storage device for receiving a stack of provided elongated blanks, and comprising a front bracket, a side bar and a rear brace to ensure correct alignment of the blank when the blank is ejected into the conveyor mechanism; The method for manufacturing a beverage container holder according to claim 1, further comprising a step of preparing a storage device. Providing a storage device for receiving the provided stack of elongated blanks and providing a set of introduction belts located under the storage device and providing a support surface for the stack of elongated blanks. The manufacturing method of the drink container holder of Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of providing the storage device with side bars and rear braces to ensure correct alignment of the blank when the blank is discharged into the conveyor mechanism. Manufacturing method for beverage container holders. The method further comprises the step of providing the storage device with a front bracket, a side bar and a rear brace to ensure correct alignment of the blank when the blank is discharged into the conveyor mechanism. Item 5. A method for producing a beverage container holder according to Item 4. The front bracket is supported so that the space between the bottom of the front bracket and the support surface is equal to the uniform thickness, and a single blank can be transported over the front bracket by the introduction belt. The method for producing a beverage container holder according to claim 6, further comprising the step of: Providing the front bracket with a curved surface that engages a blank leading edge of the stack of elongated blanks when the elongated blank is approaching the space between the bottom of the front bracket and the support surface. The method for producing a beverage container holder according to claim 7, further comprising a step. 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing a vibration generating mechanism having a pad that engages a blank trailing edge of the stack of elongate blanks to help eject the blank from the stack. A method for producing a beverage container holder. The method further comprises a step of applying the heat-activated adhesive to a region of the inner surface of each blank and a step of crystallizing the heat-activated adhesive applied to a region of the inner surface of each blank. The manufacturing method of the drink container holder of Claim 1. Providing a storage device for receiving a prepared stack of elongate blanks, and said storage device comprising side bars and rear braces to ensure correct alignment of the blanks when the blanks are ejected into the conveyor mechanism. The method for manufacturing a beverage container holder according to claim 10, further comprising a step of preparing. Providing a storage device for receiving a prepared stack of elongated blanks, and comprising a front bracket, a side bar and a rear brace to ensure correct alignment of the blank when the blank is discharged into the conveyor mechanism; The method for manufacturing a beverage container holder according to claim 10, further comprising a step of preparing a storage device. And further comprising the steps of providing a storage device for receiving the prepared stack of elongated blanks and providing a set of introducer belts located under the storage device and providing a support surface for the stack of elongated blanks. The manufacturing method of the drink container holder of Claim 10 characterized by the above-mentioned. 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of providing the storage device with side bars and rear braces to ensure correct alignment of the blank when it is discharged into the conveyor mechanism. Manufacturing method for beverage container holders. Providing the storage device with a front bracket, a side bar and a rear brace so as to ensure correct alignment of the blank when the blank is discharged into the conveyor mechanism. The manufacturing method of the drink container holder of Claim 13. The front bracket is supported so that the space between the bottom of the front bracket and the support surface is equal to the uniform thickness, and a single blank can be transported over the front bracket by the introduction belt. 16. The method for producing a beverage container holder according to claim 15, further comprising the step of: Providing the front bracket with a curved surface that engages a blank leading edge of the stack of elongate blanks when the elongate blank approaches the space between the bottom of the front bracket and the support surface; The method for producing a beverage container holder according to claim 16, further comprising a step. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing a vibration generating mechanism having a pad that engages a blank trailing edge of the stack of elongate blanks to help eject the blank from the stack. A method for producing a beverage container holder. The method further includes the step of applying the heat-activated adhesive to the second region of the inner surface of each blank and the step of crystallizing the heat-activated adhesive applied to the second region of the inner surface of each blank. The method for producing a beverage container holder according to claim 10. A step of preparing a pressurized air source; a step of preparing a vortex tube mechanism; and a step of connecting the pressurized air source and the vortex tube mechanism to each other to generate a flow of cooling air, 20. The method of manufacturing a beverage container holder according to claim 19, wherein the cooling air flow is used to crystallize the heat-activated adhesive applied to the inner surface area of each blank. Splitting the cooling air stream into two separate streams and two separate streams of cooling air on the inner surface of each blank at two separate locations along the path the conveyor mechanism transports the blanks. 21. The method of manufacturing a beverage container holder according to claim 20, further comprising a step of directing the heat activated adhesive applied to the region to be applied. A step of preparing a pressurized air source, a step of preparing a vortex tube mechanism for each of the regions where the heat-activated adhesive is applied to the inner surface of each blank, and each of the pressurized air source and the vortex tube mechanism The cooling air flow is used to crystallize the thermally activated adhesive applied to the area of the inner surface of each blank. The manufacturing method of the drink container holder of Claim 10 characterized by the above-mentioned. Dividing each of the cooling air streams into two separate streams; and two separate streams of cooling air for each blank at two separate locations along the path along which the conveyor mechanism carries the blanks. 23. The method of manufacturing a beverage container holder according to claim 22, further comprising the step of directing the heat activated adhesive applied to the inner surface area. A method of manufacturing a disposable beverage container holder from a frustoconical prefabricated flat paperboard blank with an outer corrugated liner surface and an inner stepped surface, each comprising a central portion and two end flaps Preparing a stack of pre-manufactured blanks of uniform thickness, preparing an elongated machine with multiple work stations along both sides of the longitudinal extent, and end flaps cantilevered from the blank A step of providing a conveyor mechanism adapted to engage a central portion of the blank extending in a state, the conveyor one after another from the stack with the blank facing down and the inner stepped surface facing up Discharging into the mechanism, transporting the blank at a constant speed along the longitudinal extent of the machine, and Scraping the outer corrugated liner surface of the wrap, folding the scraped end flaps up so that they lie flat on the central part of the blank, and flattening the adhesive on the central part of the blank. Applying to the scraping area of the flap located at the top, folding the other end flap of the blank up so that it is positioned above the adhesive-applied scraping area, and the folded blank A pressure applying mechanism that applies a downward pressure to the folded blank, a step of sending the folded blank to the pressure applying mechanism, and a folded blank. Applying downward pressure to the step of supplying at a speed slower than the constant speed and the free end flap located above the scraped area where the adhesive has been applied The process of discharging the finished products in a scaly array state, the step of picking up a group of finished products from the scaly array state, and compressing the group of finished products in a scaly array state into a stack of printed products A method for manufacturing a beverage container holder, comprising: a step; and a step of placing a stack of finished products in a transport container. Providing a storage device for receiving a pre-manufactured stack of blanks and said storage with side bars and rear braces to ensure correct alignment of the blanks when they are ejected into the conveyor mechanism; The method for producing a beverage container holder according to claim 24, further comprising a step of preparing an apparatus. Providing a storage device that accepts a pre-manufactured stack of blanks and includes front brackets, side bars and rear braces to ensure correct alignment of the blanks when they are ejected into the conveyor mechanism 25. The method of manufacturing a beverage container holder according to claim 24, further comprising the step of preparing the storage device. Providing a storage device for receiving a pre-manufactured stack and a set of introduction belts located under the storage device and providing a support surface for the pre-manufactured blank stack The method for producing a beverage container holder according to claim 24, further comprising a step. 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of providing the storage device with side bars and rear braces to ensure correct alignment of the blank when the blank is discharged into the conveyor mechanism. Manufacturing method for beverage container holders. The method further comprises the step of providing the storage device with a front bracket, a side bar and a rear brace to ensure correct alignment of the blank when the blank is discharged into the conveyor mechanism. Item 28. A method for producing a beverage container holder according to Item 27. The front bracket is supported so that the space between the bottom of the front bracket and the support surface is equal to the uniform thickness, and a single blank can be transported over the front bracket by the introduction belt. 30. The method for producing a beverage container holder according to claim 29, further comprising the step of: A curve that engages the blank leading edge of the stack of pre-manufactured blanks when the pre-manufactured blank approaches the space between the bottom of the front bracket and the support surface 31. The method of manufacturing a beverage container holder according to claim 30, further comprising the step of preparing the front bracket having a surface. The method further comprises the step of providing a vibration generating mechanism having a pad that engages a blank trailing edge of the stack of blanks in a pre-manufactured state to assist in releasing the blank from the stack. The manufacturing method of the drink container holder of Claim 30. The method further includes the steps of applying a heat-activated adhesive to a region of the inner stepped surface of each blank and crystallizing the heat-activated adhesive applied to a region of the inner stepped surface of each blank. 25. The method for producing a beverage container holder according to claim 24. Providing a storage device for receiving a pre-manufactured stack of blanks and said storage with side bars and rear braces to ensure correct alignment of the blanks when they are ejected into the conveyor mechanism; 34. The method for producing a beverage container holder according to claim 33, further comprising the step of preparing an apparatus. Providing a storage device that accepts a pre-manufactured stack of blanks and includes front brackets, side bars and rear braces to ensure correct alignment of the blanks when they are ejected into the conveyor mechanism 34. The method of manufacturing a beverage container holder according to claim 33, further comprising the step of preparing the storage device. Providing a storage device for receiving a pre-manufactured blank stack, and a set of introduction belts located under the storage device and providing a support surface for the pre-manufactured blank stack. 34. The method of manufacturing a beverage container holder according to claim 33, further comprising a step of preparing. 37. The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of providing the storage device with side bars and rear braces to ensure correct alignment of the blank when the blank is discharged into the conveyor mechanism. Manufacturing method for beverage container holders. Providing the storage device with a front bracket, a side bar and a rear brace so as to ensure correct alignment of the blank when the blank is discharged into the conveyor mechanism. The method for producing a beverage container holder according to claim 36. The front bracket is supported so that the space between the bottom of the front bracket and the support surface is equal to the uniform thickness, and a single blank can be transported over the front bracket by the introduction belt. The method for producing a beverage container holder according to claim 38, further comprising the step of: A curve that engages the blank leading edge of the stack of prefabricated blanks when the prefabricated blank is approaching the space between the bottom of the front bracket and the support surface 40. The method of manufacturing a beverage container holder according to claim 39, further comprising the step of preparing the front bracket having a surface. The method further comprises the step of providing a vibration generating mechanism having a pad that engages a blank trailing edge of the stack of blanks in a pre-manufactured state to assist in releasing the blank from the stack. 40. A method of manufacturing a beverage container holder according to claim 39. Applying heat activated adhesive to the second region of the inner stepped surface of each blank and crystallizing the heat activated adhesive applied to the second region of the inner stepped surface of each blank 34. The method of manufacturing a beverage container holder according to claim 33, further comprising: A step of preparing a pressurized air source; a step of preparing a vortex tube mechanism; and a step of connecting the pressurized air source and the vortex tube mechanism to each other to generate a flow of cooling air, 34. A method of manufacturing a beverage container holder according to claim 33, wherein the flow of cooling air is used to crystallize a heat activated adhesive applied to an area of the inner stepped surface of each blank. . Splitting the cooling air stream into two separate streams, and dividing the two separate streams of cooling air into two separate locations along the path along which the conveyor mechanism transports the blanks. 44. The method of manufacturing a beverage container holder according to claim 43, further comprising the step of directing the heat-activatable adhesive applied to the surface area of the attached surface. A step of preparing a pressurized air source, a step of preparing a vortex tube mechanism for each of the regions where the thermally activated adhesive is applied to the inner stepped surface of each blank, and the pressurized air source and the vortex tube mechanism Connecting each of the first and second to each other to generate a flow of cooling air, the flow of cooling air comprising a heat activated adhesive applied to an area of the inner stepped surface of each blank. 43. The method for producing a beverage container holder according to claim 42, wherein the beverage container holder is used for crystallization. Dividing each of the cooling air streams into two separate streams; and two separate streams of cooling air for each blank at two separate locations along the path along which the conveyor mechanism carries the blanks. 46. A method of manufacturing a beverage container holder according to claim 45, further comprising the step of directing it against a heat-activated adhesive applied to the region of the inner stepped surface.